Page 13 of Breaking the Ice

“Is there anything in the kitchen?” he wants to know. “An energy bar, nuts, a stick of jerky?”

I shake my head while inadvertently inhaling his spicy scent—the clove and orange scent makes me dizzy for real. “I told you I haven’t gotten to the market yet.”

He stands up with me still in his arms and declares, “I’ll take you up to your house then. We can get you something there.”

There is no way my mom can see me carried into our house by Zachary Hart. No. Way. “I’m fine, thank you. Just put me down.”

“I can’t do that. Either I take you up to your house or I take you out for lunch. You decide.”

Squirming in his arms, I tell him, “That’s not necessary, Zach. Please put me down.”

His response is to squeeze tighter.

It appears I have no recourse. “Fine, you can take me to the market, and I’ll buy something for lunch.”

Walking toward the door, he announces, “We passed a diner on the way here. I’m taking you there first.”

I say a small prayer that Shirley May is not pulling a double today. She’d out me for sure if she saw me again so soon. It’s not that I care if Zach thinks I’m a liar. It’s just that I really need to have the moral high ground here.

Between the two of us, I’m not the bad guy.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Zach

I should not be having feelings for my feisty landlady, except she’s in my arms and boy howdy, it feels right. I forcefully remind myself I’m in Maple Falls to stay out of trouble. I’m not here to make my problems worse.

I don’t say anything to Ellie as I carry her up the path to my SUV. Primarily because I’m sure I’d say something wildly inappropriate. Like, you’re gorgeous; I love the feel of your soft curves; and what do you say we get married tonight?

When we arrive at my rental car—three hours later, or so it seems—I gently put Ellie down so that she’s leaning against the fender. Then I take out my keys and open the passenger side for her.

Once she’s inside, I close the door and hurry around to the driver’s side. Getting in, I announce, “I could use a big fat cheeseburger right about now. How about you?”

She hems and haws for a minute before answering, “I’m not really hungry.”

“That’s too bad because you’re eating.” I know I sound dictatorial, but I’m over women who refuse to feed their bodies the calories needed for basic human function. And if Ellie hasn’t eaten yet today, she must be starving.

“You can’t tell me what to do,” she says with hostility.

“You fainted from hunger,” I remind her. “You’re going to eat.”

She stays quiet until we’re on the main drag where the diner is located. “I thought you had things to do today.”

“I do.” With a sly grin, I add, “I have windows to wash.”

“Ha, ha. I thought you had important businessman things to do which is why you couldn’t stay with your brother.”

The main reason I didn’t want to stay at Troy’s is because I was enjoying giving Ellie a hard time. She didn’t hide her dislike for me very well, and I seem to have taken that as a challenge. “I can work after we eat and after the windows are done.”

She grumbles but remains quiet until I park in front of the diner. That’s when she tries again. “I really am okay with grabbing an energy bar at the market.”

Instead of responding, I turn off the ignition and step out of the car. I run around to let her out, but she’s already exited on her own. Taking her arm, I warn, “Be careful. You don’t want to expend a lot of energy before we get you refueled.”

A few steps later, I open the front door to the typical small-town diner. The décor is not trendy. Old school brown booths surround the perimeter of a room full of wooden chairs and tables that have probably been there for thirty years. It’s nothing like eating out in Beverly Hills, and I love it on sight.

As soon as Ellie walks inside, her eyes immediately dart back and forth like she’s looking for someone. A middle-aged woman in a pink dress raises her hand and greets, “You’re back!”

Ellie’s posture straightens like she just had a ramrod surgically implanted. “Shirley May!” She rushes toward the server and whispers something I can’t hear.

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